THE BOARDROOM MONITOR
Jane Simms is a former editor of Financial Director and Marketing Business and has twice been nominated for a PPA award for her Director commentary
leadership
The macho, long-hours culture is still prevalent at the top of many organisations. No wonder so few women take up a place in Britain's boardrooms
leadership
There are some traits that unite the very best business leaders—and the late Sir John Harvey-Jones had them all in abundance
marketing
Marketing should play a crucial role in identifying and satisfying customer demand. But marketing directors are more interested in the size of their budgets
climate change
Our insistence on growth as a measure of success is in direct conflict with the urgent need to slow down and save the planet. Priorities must change
mobile networks
Network operators might like to focus a little more on providing decent mobile-phone reception instead of pushing games and sponsoring the events
people management
Focusing on customers and staff may be the most effective way to bring back profit to those businesses that have lost ground
flexible working
Although flexible working cuts costs and improves employee performance, some suspicious managers still refuse to let go of the reins of power
work-life balance
Promoting a positive work-life balance would be far easier without all these super-human working mothers moaning about sacrifice. What sacrifice?
Management
Cultures exist in all firms, but not all directors are aware of their presence, or of their far-reaching effects on those outside
Marketing
Too many companies appear unaware of the fact that what they call themselves and their products has a huge impact on consumers
Technology
Web 2.0 has put corporates in conversation with their customers. Directors who cling to formality and status may find their brands gathering dust
marketing
With British firms such as Body Shop and Jaguar falling into foreign ownership, it's time for UK plc to take on its continental neighbours
directors' pay
UK executive pay packages are still out of line with European equivalents. If we don't do something about it, salary capping will be the only solution left
HR
Directors often say their staff are their greatest asset. But it's only when the chips are down that we find out how corporations really view the rank and file
business jargon
You may be a considerate communicator, like Greg Dyke, or a charismatic chatterbox, like Branson, but try and avoid business jargon—people can't stand it
future gazing
Whatever their vision of the next 50 years, futurists agree on one thing: our fate lies in our own hands. As for predictions, steer clear of science fiction
technology
Despite what the analysts say, technology companies should learn to play by the same rules of business we all adhere to—and don't forget the customer
sustainability
Companies must start becoming more environmentally friendly now—for their own sake, as well as the planet's
